On Friday, 21 September [2007], a book by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary
of State, inspired by his conversations with Sr. Lucia, the last seer of
Fatima who died on 13 February 2005, was presented in the Aula Magna of
the Pontifical Urban University. The book is entitled "L'ultima
veggente di Fatima. I miei colloqui con Suor Lucia", written together
with Giuseppe De Carli. The following is a translation of the Cardinal's
discourse, delivered in Italian at the conclusion of the presentation.

At the end of this round of interventions, I warmly thank the speakers
who with their different but complementary reports have outlined a
magnificent, I would say "Marian", fresco, which from various viewpoints
has been edifying in its spirit, incisive in its history, profound in its
culture and informative.

For my part, I would like to reflect on just two apparently
contradictory points: the value for Catholic spirituality of Mariology,
which also includes supernatural phenomena, and the Church's justifiable
prudence in officially recognizing them.

1. Down through the centuries the Church has come face to face with
various apparitions — for the most part involving the Mother of the Lord
and the Saints —, the subject of a mysterious divine plan. Some people
have recognized and accepted them as extraordinary manifestations for the
providential guidance of disciples of Christ or as a prophetic sign.

Yet, the Church has never wished to oblige believers to believe in them
(this was already attested to by Pope Benedict XIV in De Servorum Dei
Beatificatione). Faith is always and only rooted and founded in Jesus
Christ, who :is the Father's true prophesy until the end of history.

Conciliar teaching recognizes manifestations that do not belong to
biblical revelation but are addressed to private individuals (cf.
Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 66).

These revelations. which cannot contradict the content of faith, must
converge toward the central subject of Jesus Christ's proclamation: the
Father's love, which engenders conversion in human beings and imparts the
grace they need to entrust themselves to him with filial devotion.

This is also the message of Fatima which, with its heartfelt appeal to
conversion and repentance, actually urges us on into the heart of the
Gospel. In this regard the apparition of Fatima acquires, as it were, the
form of a great ecclesial fresco, as Cardinal Ratzinger demonstrated in
his Theological Commentary for the publication of the third part of the
so-called "secrets".

The Virgin Mary's mission in the plan of universal salvation and in
every Christian's life is brought increasingly into the limelight by
contemporary Catholicism. Several people are concerned about this, fearing
that it may increase the gap that separates us from our Protestant
brothers and sisters.

But we view the development of Mariology as an attestation of fidelity
to the Holy Spirit, who in the course of the centuries has led people to
be ever more explicitly aware of the truth contained in Scripture.

Mary's task, recognized by Catholicism — I do not speak of one form or
another of devotion —, is not a doctrine superimposed on Scripture but
rather proceeds from the actual knowledge of the Word of God, better
understood down the ages by the faith of the Christian community and the
tradition of the Magisterium under the constant action of the Holy Spirit.

This is the marvellous fact, that a woman was chosen to be the Mother
of God. Everything in the Virgin's soul that prepares for and prefigures
Christ still remains an immediate reality for us today, since the mystery
of Christ's gradual coming to all souls and in all nations is taking place
before our very eyes.

"We are always in an advent", Cardinal Jean Danielou wrote, "He has
come but his manifestation is not yet complete".

The criterion for the discernment of the truth of a private revelation
is therefore its orientation to Christ and to the Gospel. Starting with
this fundamental criterion, certain keys of interpretation can intervene,
such as popular piety or religiosity.

In his Theological Intervention, Cardinal Ratzinger referred to popular
piety in very meaningful terms, affirming: "This does not mean that a
private revelation will not offer new emphases or give rise to new
devotional forms, or deepen and spread older forms" (Theological
Commentary, L'Osservatore Romano English edition [ORE],
28 June 2000, p. VII, n. 2).

Yet, underlying all this is the question of nourishing faith, hope and
charity, which for everyone constitute the permanent path to salvation.
Popular religiosity means that faith puts down roots in the heart of
individual persons in such a way that it may be introduced into the world
of daily life. Popular religiosity is the first and fundamental mode of "inculturation"
of the faith.

2. But what are the reasons for the Church's prudence in recognizing
apparitions as genuine manifestations of the supernatural?

With reference to our day rather than to the past, one of the reasons
has to do with the increase in these phenomena, which in all likelihood is
due to various causes: the collapse of rationalism, the spasmodic search
for mystery, a superficial, insufficiently formed faith, increasing
apprehension or anxiety about not knowing what the future will bring....

Such phenomena are more quickly affirmed than in previous times. Their
influence is being felt in various parts of the world mainly because of
the emphasis given to them by the media.

Indeed, a conspicuous, programmed dissemination of presumed
"supernatural messages" associated with these phenomena can be observed.

There is likewise a tendency to connect the "messages" received during
specific "apparitions" with the messages of other apparitions, so much the
better if they are recognized as authentic by the legitimate
ecclesiastical Authority, but also with those that have not been
recognized; and thus to link the various movements dependent on the
different phenomena.

With regard to the content of the "messages": there is a risk of
judging such phenomena as authentic for the sole reason that the messages
contain no doctrinal errors against the faith since they are exhortations
and invitations to prayer and conversion. These presumed apparitions are
often a vehicle for "apocalyptic" messages and this trend is increasing.

Publications (books, periodicals) that specialize in supernatural
phenomena are attracting considerable interest. These publications make a
special impact, particularly when they are written by an ecclesiastic or a
theologian.

Furthermore, the fact that "seers" are attracting considerable
attention can be seen as characteristic of our time. New "Movements" or
Associations of the faithful frequently form round a specific phenomenon,
which requires discernment so as to forestall problems arising with
communion or with ecclesial life in the country or local Church.

Even if at times the behaviour of diocesan Bishops and their
collaborators may be wanting, it is essential to steer clear of the risk
of a "Church of apparitions", diffident of the Hierarchy of the
Church, as a variant of the well-known opposition of "charismatic
Church — institutional Church". In this case, of course, we find that
rather than facing a definite ideological position we are up against an
attitude lived out and influenced by a somewhat superficial religiosity, a
weakened ecclesial communion and a rather shallow faith in need of
miraculous signs.

The above-mentioned characteristics mean that prudence and caution are
required on the part of Bishops examining these cases, especially when it
is a question of granting them public worship, and even more, of possibly
pronouncing on their supernatural character. This worship, however, is
increasingly assuming a theological status with important pastoral
implications. The International Congress at Lourdes in 2008 will focus
precisely on the "theological significance" of Marian apparitions.

But let us return to the Fatima message. The fruitful encounter between
charism and institution, Trinitarian mystery and Christological mystery,
is fulfilled in it. Mary, a sign of God's mercy, does not leave Christians
on their own. She gives us hints as signs to combat the titanic battle
between good and evil. Mary is the image of God's tenderness for us.

There are certain characteristics at Fatima: from the consignment of
pious practices to the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; from
spirituality to a historical and political vision (Russia, peace and war,
atheism...); from a geographically limited influence to one that is
universal to the point that it affects the Pontiffs, and in a special way,
Pope Wojtyla.

In a recent interview with Avvenire [Italian Catholic daily]
newspaper, I have already had the opportunity to say that the mystery of
Fatima is an event. that has affected and permeated contemporary history
more than any other Marian apparition. And the fullness of its message —
not only of the third part of the "secrets" — touches the hearts of human
beings, inviting them to conversion and to co-responsibility for the
world's salvation.

Here we find an interpretative key to the 19th century, and in a
certain sense its message obliges today's men and women to reckon with a
supernatural dimension that they are not always prepared to consider. Even
for believers, the idea of a supernatural "intrusion" into earthly events
can be difficult to accept, compared with that which refers every
confrontation between man and God to eschatology, which is in some ways
soothing. A remote and distant God is more comfortable, as Pope Benedict
XVI has said several times, than a God who is close and accessible.

Many do not know that Mother Teresa of Calcutta's last gaze before she
died met that of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima placed in her bedroom.

In September 1959, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina felt that he had been
"miraculously cured" by Our Lady of Fatima at the very moment when her
little statue was leaving San Giovanni Rotondo. In that period, the Saint
with the stigmata was weakened by a dangerous "bronchial-pneumonia
complicated by the effusion of serous fluid". The diagnosis was made by
Dr. Sala, his regular physician. Padre Pio prayed to Our Lady of Fatima
and the following day he was once again able to celebrate Mass.

The book being presented today was written above all with the intention
of speaking of Sr. Lucia, of her attractive and forthright humanity,
typical of an ordinary woman who had had a quite extraordinary experience;
and through Sr. Lucia, of Mary.

It should be noted that Sr. Lucia, the illiterate child who learned to
read and write in the convent, then wrote throughout her life. In the
1980s alone an average of 5,000 letters a year arrived in Coimbra, and
this figure became tens of thousands after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Doubt was cast on the veracity of the integral publication of the third
"secret" which she had written down in obedience to the Bishop's orders;
well, had the truth been different it could have been detected in the
thousands of answers which Lucia wrote to the faithful in every part of
the world who asked her questions, spending many hours a day in her very
personal office.

Lastly, I cannot omit a reference to Pope Benedict XVI. Some of his
journeys have been profoundly marked by the figure of the "Pilgrim Pope in
the footsteps of Mary": Czestochowa, Poland; Altötting,
Bavaria; Ephesus, Turkey; Our Lady of the Forlorn, Valencia, Spain;
Aparecida, Brazil; Loreto, Italy, with the young people; and Mariazell,
Austria.

The Pope's Marian devotion is also being given a practical expression
this year, which is the 90th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions. Two.
Papal Envoys will have been sent to Fatima: Cardinal Angelo Sodano on 13
May, the anniversary of the first apparition; and the Cardinal Secretary
of State is to be there for the anniversary of the last apparition and the
conclusion of the festivities.

As is well known, I will preside at the rite of the dedication of the
new Basilica to the Most Holy Trinity on the evening of 12 October,
whereas on 13 October I will celebrate for pilgrims on the esplanade.
Then, on 14 October, I will preside at another celebration to be broadcast
live by RAI, the Italian radio and television network.

I would like to stress the theological value of the dedication of the
Basilica to the Most Holy Trinity. This means consolidating God's concrete
presence in human history; it is of course a judicious presence but above
all of salvation and hope.

"History, in fact, is not in the hands of the powers of darkness,
chance or human decisions alone. When the evil energy that we see is
unleashed, when Satan vehemently bursts in, when a multitude of scourges
and ills surface, the Lord, the supreme arbiter of historical events,
arises. He leads history wisely towards the dawn of the new heavens and
the new earth" (General Audience, 11 May 2005; ORE, 18 May,
p. 11).

Taken from:
L'Osservatore Romano
Weekly Edition in English
10 October 2007, page 3

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